[ It's at least a little bit more comfortable, just lying there now, waiting for someone to approach them and help. Minako won't even refuse the help, knowing that she really needs it. Even though she's still managing to talk a little bit, her body feels so strange and awful in this moment.

Really, she isn't sure whether she'd be able to talk or put on a brave face if it wasn't for the fact that her body was used to enduring a lot in the first place.

But despite the way she looks so weak, and despite her pale face, she still turns her head to look at Monika when the other speaks like that, when she feels that hand on her face.

Even if she can't quite find the energy to move the rest of her body, she can at least do this much. ]

Right..

[ Minako does believe it's going to be okay somehow. Her body right now feels so awful that it doesn't feel like it could suddenly feel normal again, but she has to believe it's going to be okay. Someone here has got to have some sort of cure for this - she just has to believe that.

And in the meantime..

A faint breath of a laugh escapes her. ]

Monika, your hands are shaking.. [ Sorry, girl, but it's impossible to not feel it when the other is holding her hands like that. Even though the way she calls it out sounds more like a weak joke than anything else. ] I.. will be okay.

[ Maybe not right away, but surely this will go away. Surely, surely..

She wishes she could hold the other's hands in return, but she doesn't have the energy. All she can do is allow Monika to clutch hers like that. ]

I will be, so.. you.. have to believe that too, okay..? Just believe in our bond. [ She sucks in a deep breath, before wincing as she swallows painfully. ] I'm not.. going to give up on that so quickly..

[ Even if it means fighting whatever has come over her. Even though it feels entirely overwhelming, even in this moment. ]